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Library Collection

Books

The library holds roughly 10,000 books relating to the teaching and research of the department. There are multiple copies of textbooks and new publications are added regularly.

Contact the librarian if you have any recommendations or suggestions.

Journals

A range of journals are held in hard copy by the library. Current subscriptions are in the main library, and those that are not currently under subscription are kept in the basement and can be fetched on request.

Access to electronic journals is via SOLO

Confined Cupboard

Books kept in the Confined Cupboard must not be taken out of the library.

There is a card at the front of each book:

  • Fill in your name and the date borrowed
  • Leave the card in the gap on the shelf

Return the book to the librarian’s desk at the end of each day.

Diversity in Geoscience

The departmental library has a new and growing collection of portraits and books to celebrate diversity in geoscience. For example:

  • The disordered cosmos : a journey into dark matter, spacetime, and dreams deferred, Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
  • Complaint! Sara Ahmed
  • A billion Black Anthropocenes or none, Kathryn Yusoff
  • Ghost Stories for Darwin: The Science of Variation and the Politics of Diversity, Banu Subramaniam
  • Fossil Legends of the First Americans, Adrienne Mayor
  • The Mismeasure of Man, Stephen Jay Gould
  • Henry Fairfield Osborn: Race and the Search for the Origins of Man, Brian Regal
  • Superhero scientists, David Allen, Alex Sinclair ; illustrated by Richard Spencer.

There are also some potentially interesting journal articles that cover diversity in general:

  • Developing scientists as champions of diversity to transform the geosciences, Quardokus Fisher, K. et al., Journal of Geoscience Education: New Developments in Diversity and Inclusiveness in the Geosciences, 02 October 2019, Vol.67(4), pp.459-471
  • Applying an intersectionality lens to expand equity in the geosciences, Núñez, A-M. et al., Journal of Geoscience Education, 02 April 2020, Vol.68(2), pp.97-114

The latter article references this next article and, although it is a more general study of North American LGBTQ+ student success, it has some useful points:

  • Affirming Policies, Programs, and Supportive Services: Using an Organisational Perspective to Understand LGBTQ+ College Student Success, Pitcher, E.N et al. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 2018, Vol.11, No. 2, pp.117-132

There is also an article which could be interesting, not only from an accessibility point of view but also when teaching remotely:

  • Enabling Remote Access to Fieldwork: Gaining Insight into the Pedagogic Effectiveness of ‘Direct’ and ‘Remote’ Field Activities, Stokes, Alison, Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 2012, vol:36 : iss:2 pg:197-222

Basement

Access to the basement is available on request.

It houses:

  • British Geological Survey Memoirs, Regional Guides, Bulletins
  • Departmental DPhil Theses
  • Ocean Drilling Programme Reports
  • Decade of North American Geology
  • Departmental Reprints
  • Palaeontographical Society Monographs
  • Journals
Basement Storage

Basement Storage

Maps

The library has a good collection of topographical and geological maps kept in the Confined Cupboard and a variety of map cabinets/drawers:

  • Ordnance Survey and worldwide topographical maps
  • BGS folded maps
  • Flat BGS maps
  • Worldwide geological maps
Map Cabinet

Map Cabinet

They are not catalogued on SOLO but they are listed – please ask the librarian for information and access.

Tutorial Boxes

These are box files with articles provided by tutors. The files are arranged by year and by tutor.

Do not take any of the articles out of the library and return boxes to shelf L-20 promptly.

Exam Papers

Past examination papers are OXAM. You will need your single sign-on to access it via OxLIP+

Mapping Reports

Reports written by previous students on their mapping areas are in files on shelf L-19. They are arranged by country, and include maps as well as practical information for planning your project.

*They are unique and must not be taken out of the library*

Mapping Reports

4th Year Projects

Most 4th year projects are available electronically – contact the librarian for access.

Physical copies 4th Year Projects are kept in the Confined Cupboard.

There is a card at the front of each book:

  • Fill in your name and the date borrowed
  • Leave the card in the gap on the shelf

*They are unique and must not be taken out of the library*

Reprints

There is a collection of reprints of articles written by members of the department kept in the basement. There is a card index for older material, and recent material is kept on racks in the Research Common Room.